THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123

John Travolta is the bad guy in this remake of this 1974 Walter Matthau vehicle about a robbery on a New York subway train

IMAGINE THAT

Eddie Murphy in a family-oriented fantasy about his daughter’s amazing imagination.

1. GRAN TORINO:

Clint Eastwood stars in and directed this Academy Award-level film that didn’t get any nominations, the story of Walt Kowalski, a retired, widowed, Detroit auto assembly line worker who is increasingly unhappy with the change in his neighborhood as Asians, gangs, and non-traditional people move in. The capper comes when a young Asian boy tries to steal his prized mid-70s fully restored Ford Torino. What ensues is an endearing story with an ending that you won’t see coming. Rated 14A.

2. THE INTERNATIONAL:

Good cast here with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. Good premise too … the world’s banks are somewhat corrupt and they are trying to rule the world. One of the best on-camera gun battles that I have ever seen ensues in a museum and goes on for what seems like half the movie … but in the end, it’s all for nothing. I felt cheated with the ending of this movie – two hours invested for a return of … not very much. Rated 14A.

3. JOHN ADAMS:

Not a movie, but an HBO mini-series about the American President that won multiple Emmys last year. Paul Giamatti is the star, and I mention it here because it attracted so many awards – but it’s a piece of Americana that doesn’t fly that well on this side of the border. Nearly 10 hours in length, you really have to like your history-come-to-life to sweat through this one. Rated PG.

4. GRAN TORINO:

Most of the Asian actors featured here aren’t professionals … but in large measure, this is how Dirty Harry would act if he were retired. I thought it was a great movie!

DIRTY HARRY (1971):Clint Eastwood had great hair and lots of it as Harry Callaghan, San Francisco police inspector who would shoot first and ask questions later. It’s dated, but still a great movie. Original star was to be Frank Sinatra, who declined because of an injury. Paul Newman was approached, but said, no, try Eastwood.

LAND OF THE LOST

Based on the 1974 TV series, this one takes a lot of liberties – good dinosaurs, but lots of infantile humour

MY LIFE IN RUINS

Nia Vardalos is a treat in this romantic comedy. Where has she been?

THE HANGOVER

Strictly for “Old School” fans … a grotty tale of a bachelor party in Vegas gone bad.